Course to College Corps

Course to College Corps

Iowa College Aid’s Course to College Corps is made up of a talented group of individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of today’s youth by helping high school students enroll and succeed in college. In order for students to succeed in college, they first have to get there. Even with the best of intentions, many college-bound students get lost along the way. Course to College Corps members are trained in the many college-going steps, such as completing a college application and FAFSA, sending high school transcripts and notifying a college of the decision to attend. Equipped with this information, the Corps members serve as part of the students’ college network with the goal of removing the barriers that keep students from college.

Iowa College Aid has partnered with communities throughout Iowa for Course to College Corps placement. The Corps will assist the communities with building a sustainable Course to College program and providing one-on-one assistance to high school students.

College Access and Success VISTA

College Access and Success VISTAs are hosted in Iowa LCAN and GEAR UP Iowa communities. They provide support in the implementation of Iowa College Aid’s college access program, building capacity for the school districts to sustain the program into future years.

Iowa College Aid sponsors five AmeriCorps VISTA positions throughout the state of Iowa. VISTA members work with school counselors, educators and other community organizations to expand the community's college access programming by implementing Iowa College Aid's Course to College Program.

Each VISTA will develop toolkits, processes and strategies to increase the number of completed college applications and FAFSAs, especially for low-income and underrepresented students. The VISTA also will assist Iowa College Aid in developing statewide FAFSA completion, Summer Melt and college fit/match toolkits, and then adapt the components to their community's needs.

College Access and Success AmeriCorps

College Access and Success AmeriCorps members will work in community school districts throughout Iowa to assist students with FAFSA completion and other steps required to access and succeed in college. Members will track student progress throughout the school year as well as the summer between high school graduation and college enrollment.

Join the Corps as a College Access Coach

Iowa College Aid is looking for individuals with a passion for helping others to serve as full-time and part-time student coaches, helping high school seniors to complete the steps required to attend and succeed in college. Members will provide assistance to students, expanding the school district’s college access programming to reach and support a larger number of students. Members also will collaborate with Iowa College Aid, school counselors and administrators, educators, VISTA members and community organizations. College Access and Success AmeriCorps provides an opportunity to make a difference in the students' lives and futures, all while gaining work experience valuable across many career fields.